Travel e-Scapes: December 19, 2017

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DESTINATION & DEAL OF THE DAY: NYC

HURRY! Round-trip from Atlanta:$146 New York-LaGuardia, JFK or Newark NJ
Valid daily through April 30 on nonstop Delta service
A Saturday night minimum stay required
Blackout dates: February 15-17, 19; March 30, 31
Optional: Fly into one airport and out of another

TRAVEL TIPS & TIDBITS

Airfare Savings in 2018
Expedia and ARC (Airline Reporting Corp.) experts analyzed flight data, drawing on billions of data points for domestic and international air travel globally to identify patterns travelers can use to find airfare savings in 2018.Here are the most important findings:Best booking lead time for a bargain: Booking a flight more than 30 days ahead of departure is when travelers are most likely to find the lowest Average Ticket Prices (ATPs) for economy and premium cabin air travel.Best day to book for a bargain: For most international and domestic economy flights, cheapest fares are booked on a Sunday/most expensive are booked on a Friday. For Premium fares, Saturdays and Sundays are the best bargain booking days.Best day to start a journey: No matter where you’re headed, start your journey on a Friday.
The cheapest days-of-week to start an international air journey in the economy cabin are Thursdays and Fridays.
For US domestic economy flights, the lowest ATPs was when travel began on a Friday.
The cheapest days-of-week to start an international air journey in the premium cabin are Fridays and Saturdays.What months offer the best fares? December had highest economy international ATPs/February had lowest; June had highest economy domestic ATPs/September had lowest. October had highest premium international ATPs/December had lowest. June had highest premium domestic ATPs/August had lowest.Where is the world traveling? Cancun remains a top international destination for US travelers.
View the full report.

Lost & Found Tech
Who doesn’t misplace things like phones or reading glasses when traveling, at the office or home?
Finding the perfect gift for the traveler in your life is never easy, but travel communications company Wireless Traveler has developed a product called the Orbit Finder which helps people avoid losing their belongings.
Voted the best gift by Oprah for the second year in a row, the Orbit Finders help travelers keep track of their keys, phones, bags, wallets, eyeglasses and more. Using the Orbit App, people will be able to locate their missing belongings before they fall into the wrong hands.
Wireless Traveler has developed several different forms of their Orbit Finders. For the traveler in your life who wears glasses, the world’s smallest Bluetooth Glasses Finder snaps onto the arm of your favorite glasses so they’re never left in a hotel room or rental car again.
Another innovative piece of technology is the world’s thinnest tracker, the Orbit Wallet Card. Roughly the same size and thickness of a typical credit card, the tracking device slides right into your wallet, purse or bag.
For families traveling for the holiday season, Wireless Traveler has developed the Orbit Stick-on tracker, which is ideal for finding luggage, laptops, carry-on bags or even a child’s favorite toy.
One major problem we all face is misplacing your keys or phone. With the help of the Orbit Key/Phone finders (available in 12 colors), the waterproof devices provide users with a sense of security and reassurance wherever they travel.
Charges for the Orbit Finder can last up to 90 days and they do not need to be replaced.
In celebration of the holiday season approaching fast, Wireless Traveler offers a 25% discount by using promo code PULSE25 when the items are purchased through the company’s official website.

SPECIAL DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL OFFERS

Airfare offers – ones with a ticket-by date – and deals with our suggestion to HURRY! can expire at any time. Heed Clark’s advice: Buy that great airfare deal – and then figure out a reason to go there! Eventually, you’ll see the world at a fraction of the normal price!

HURRY! Round-trip from Atlanta (one-way permitted):
$72 Ft. Lauderdale, or $36 each way
Valid daily on JetBlue, nonstop
Finish trips on or before May 1

HURRY! Round-trip from Atlanta (one-way permitted):
$136 New York-JFK, or $68 each way
Valid daily on JetBlue, nonstop
Finish trips on or before April 30

Round-trip from Atlanta:
$258 Phoenix, or $129 each way
Not valid Fridays, Sundays
Start trips on or after January 3
Finish travel on or before May 23
Blackout dates: February 15-17, 19; March 30, 31
Valid on Delta or American, nonstop
Purchase by December 28

HURRY! Summer Service! Round-trip from Atlanta:
$355 Bermuda
Valid daily on JetBlue starting on or after March 8, 2018
Finish trips on or before September 4, 2018
Service is via Boston

Round-trip from Atlanta:
$399 Cancun
Valid daily starting on or after January 9
Finish trips on or before January 31
Valid on Delta, nonstop
Purchase by December 26

NOTE: Airline fees can and often do exceed the cost of your flight! Additional charges now apply to budget and sale rates on most airlines for a carry-on bag, checked baggage and advance seat assignments. The least expensive fees are charged when these options are purchased during the ticket booking process. Fees climb higher after flights are reserved and even higher when adding these options at airport check-in. Kayak offers the most up-to-date Fees Chart for all domestic and international airlines.

How do you find these great airfare deals? Visit Clark’s Atlanta Travel Tips page for a step-by-step search and booking guide.

SPECIAL HOTEL & RESORT OFFERS

NYC Hotel Deal
We spied an outstanding deal on a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Travelzoo. Nightly rates of just $85 are available on most dates from January 1 through March 11 (dates into September also discounted) at the Hudson, a Morgans Hotel Group property. There is, however, a mandatory $30+ tax nightly facility fee that covers public space/guest room Wi-Fi, use of the fitness center, and a $10 daily food and beverage credit.
Although standard rooms at this hotel are quite small even for New York City, the hotel makes up for it with beautifully designed common areas and a location that’s steps from Central Park, Columbus Circle, Carnegie Hall and Fifth Avenue shopping.
Onsite are four trendy bars, a flagship Umami Burger restaurant, an English pub-style bar, a tequila lounge, and a rooftop terrace with city skyline views. The hotel’s ultra-chic interiors were conceived by famed designer Philippe Starck.
Standard guest rooms (only 150 square feet) feature paneled wood walls and floors.
The hotel’s location on the southwest corner of Central Park in Columbus Circle puts it within a few blocks of several major subway lines, shops and eateries.
Start the booking process at Travelzoo.
Travelzoo is also featuring a deal at the Hilton New York Fashion District in the Chelsea neighborhood for the same travel dates of January-March 11. Rates start from $99 on Sundays; $109 Thursday-Saturdays, Mondays and $119 Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Rates include a complimentary upgrade to a City View King room.
Get this deal only at Travelzoo.

NYE in NYC
Moxy Times Square in New York offers a Stay and Play package for New Year’s Eve. Check-in December 27-31 at rates of $399 per night.Add an additional $75 for:
Open Bar at Bar Moxy, 9:30P-12:30A
Midnight Champagne ToastAn additional $112.50 for:
Entry to Magic Hour with Open bar (9P-1A)
Passed hors d’oeuvres
Champagne Toast at midnightFor an extra $150 enjoy a dinner package:
Unlimited a la carte menu options
Midnight Champagne Toast
Book your celebration at Moxy Marriott.

Travel e-Scapes is brought to you by Clara Bosonetto, Team Clark Travel Editor. Follow Clara on Twitter.